At what age can a child be left at home alone when a mother has to work?
There is no “home alone” law in Mississippi and no guidance in the state law as to when a child is old enough to be left alone. The Department of Human Services has investigated many cases of children being left alone, but has failed to establish any commonly accepted guidelines. Many children have become “latch key kids,” coming home after school by themselves and staying alone until their mother gets home from work. Many young teenagers baby-sit with other children – their own siblings or a neighbor’s child. If teenagers age thirteen or above, is a responsible person, there’s probably no reason why she or he cannot be left in charge of younger children for short periods of time. Children younger than that should probably not be left with the obligation of caring for younger children for any period of time. Leaving a child under the age of thirteen at home alone, with or without younger children present, is not against the law, but it could lead to a DHS investigation and, if the DHS
